email former professor during finals or next quarter?

[mr.potato]

I graduated in 2011 and now I am thinking applying to grad school for my masters. I didn't do research, have any relationships with my professors, and I was an average student.

 

I'm thinking about emailing one of my old professors for some career advice and maybe later, a letter of recommendation. I never really talked to her but she's an economic anthropologist, I was an econ/anthro double major so I figured she would be my best shot. I also got A's in both of her classes so that couldn't hurt either. 

 

However, finals and graduation are coming up so I'm not sure if it's good time to contact her. She's not teaching summer classes so my email might get buried under a bunch of others. I was thinking waiting until the fall might be the best option and the earliest application isn't due until December so I have a small window but I feel like I would be rushing things. So when would be a good time to contact her: now, after finals/graduations, or in the fall? 

 

While I'm at it, how should I title the subject? 

 

[TakeruK]

I would write the email after finals/graduations. Everyone has the most time in the summer probably, especially early in the summer. Profs might do a lot of travel for conferences and stuff right after the term ends though, but you should try an email soon after the summer begins, then try again in a few weeks if you don't hear back.

 

I would title the email something like "Grad School advice" or something like that? You probably don't have to make it complicated and identify yourself as a former student in the subject line -- do that in the first line of the email. Profs probably get a lot of emails from their current undergrad students about grad school advice so it shouldn't be a big deal, I think!

[mr.potato]

I just found out she's not teaching any classes this quarter although she is the graduate dissertation adviser and undergrad honor thesis adviser for a few students. I have no idea how much time being a adviser takes but I would imagine less time than a regular class (eg she doesn't have to meet with a bunch of students, come up with and grade finals, etc). So would now be a good time to contact her? It's the last week before finals. Or should I still hold off until the start of summer?

[lzs]

I'm not sure thesis-advising is actually less time-consuming than a regular class -- theses are long to read even though there are fewer of them. Plus if she's advising students who are about to graduate, there might still be a lot of last-minute stuff she has to deal with? Basically, the end of the semester tends to be busy for everyone, early summer tends to be less busy, especially since you said she has no summer classes. I second what the other poster said: email her early in the summer, try again in a few weeks if you don't hear back at first.